Well we got a statement BUT.........

[bonkerzaboutxmas]

Its for 15 hours which is like a massive kick in the teeth to be honest. Am so upset I cant think straight. 15 Hours isnt going to help DS AT ALL. he gets more than that now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

would now be about time i wrote to my local MP? The LEA are so shit here. I have just spken to the head man at the LEA SEN. I explained that without full time support for DS it was unlikely he would be staying at his current school as he is at PRU right now because school cant cope and he is at risk of permanent exclusion.....his response was they will speak to the school and find out what they think....DUH did he not read the evidence for the assessment for statement where the head clearly stated without 35 hours Ds would not be able to function at the school???????

Im fed up of fighting. I had to fight for the assessment and now it seems i am gonna have to fight to get more hours on his statement. It really does feel like DS is being discriminated against becasue its a behaviour problem not a learning problem.

Sorry the statement was pants. Can you appeal it?

you could threaten going to the press bonkerz. I used to work in PR, so I know that people often got what they wanted if the organisation was afraid of a bad press story. You have to do it carefully though, as you lose your advantage once you actually do go to the press, it only works as a threat. Tell them you have a pal in PR who says the Daily Mail is desperate for a story on "why the govt's inclusion policy isn't working". It's sort of true anyway. Worth a try?

definately worth a try. Im actually well connected with the local radio who ran a story 6 months ago about a little boy with autism whos mum wanted him to attend a special school but the same LEA refused because it stated the child could cope in mainstream! Since that story the reporter keeps ringing to ask how im getting on (dealt with reposrter over other stuff so quite friendly.)

I just spoke again to the boss man at LEA who wants to arrange a meeting for after christmas and i casually mentioned i think we have a case for descrimination and that im aware our LEA is not doing everything they can for children who need extra support. He didnt sound happy TBH but im not going to let them fob off DS like this. I will appeal although CB (boss man!) syas he doesnt feel appeal willbe necessary as he thinks we can sort this out!

You can appeal, something I ahve learned- never accept the first offer!

DS3 has 16 hours now, after an initial of ten (16 hours is max here before they transfer into SN school, which apparently they consider 6 weeks into the first term- erm that'd be the day baby is due then )

Always gett he MP or whatever you have (AM's here are better but that's Wales for you) on your side. They like the 'see how I help disabled kiddies' fsctor and you get someone with the ability to kick smartly up the arse.

Also IPSEA and the NAS education line- the NAS line always gets forgotten but is great imo and ime es. for sending out info which you can use to bump an appeal.

And don't ask, tell. You'll never get everything yu want but yu'll get more if they just want rid of you

you really would have thought they would know by now im gonna fight them! I had to do it just to get an assessment and im gonna do it again. TBH i DS needs 25 hours minimum which i suppose is why i feel so let donw by 15 hours. Why should my sons future be an auction?????

They think they'll wear you out, I reckon. I know Jenk always wonders why they bother trying it on with her and i feel the same- who knows?

sounds like the bossman is quite scared you are going to appeal, so I am sure Peachy is right that you shouldn't assume the first offer is anything other than them chancing them arm with a low offer, and you can cause such a stink they'll give you full time. It is all so wearying though, it's like we have to fight every step of the way. Things are so simple with a NF child, they just go to the school up the road and that's it! Big hug to you!

thanks guys, yet again you are my support in a tough time.
Im drained, i know im gonna be fretting about this all christmas now. What will happen to Ds , what if we dont get full time, how are the school gonna cope etc etc tec.......

God ive got a headache.

I'm sorry it isnt what you hoped for. However I do think you have done well (after all you've had to proove everthing so far)to get 15 hours on the draft statement. I think it is common practice to try to give minimal hours at present - less than a couple of years back. The last thing they want is for you to go to appeal, so ask for the appeal forms, then a meeting. You may be able to nudge some more hours from them without actually going to appeal. In our area up to and including 15 hours support comes out of the schools sen budget, over and it comes out of the 'extroadinary/exceptional needs' budget held by the lea, and is allocated to the child. Good luck!

Bonkers - what a nightmare!! We have just had DS's draft statement with NO hours. He also has behavioural problems and is under threat of permanent exclusion. He has AS, although we don't have an official DX yet (just an unoffical one from his pead which doesn't count for @!@). He is only at school for 3 hours aday at the moment with 10 hours 1:1. This will be stopped as soon as we get the final statement. Does your DS have a DX??

After a nasty letter the LEA agreed to 10 hours, but this is out of the schools budget, and is going to be worded as 10 hours of support 1:1 or in small groups, which IMO counts for squat!! DS needs at least 10 hours with a dedicated 1:1, ideally more to support him back to a full week at school.

It makes me so cross that we have to fight so hard to get out children what they need.

The 1-1 in groups othing is the norm for AS now, it's what DS1 has. It allows for them to spend a certain amunt of time on social skills with a few toher kids which is a good thing BUT it's generally a get out clause. DS1 now gets most of his 1-1 due to need, but I am aware that the risk of it reverting is always there.

DS3's actually also specifies the group thing (standard in our LEA) but he ahs a dedicated LSA starting with him whome we helped to select, the hours may be insufficient but at least when she's there (in his class of 31) he'll get that support, not just any random kid who the teachers want shot of- which is what first happened with ds1.

So sorry Bonkerz.

If it's any consolation, you sound like you'd blatantly win a tribunal.

I've been looking this up for my son who was statemented whiloe still in nursery - 22.5 hours and they've refused to put it up ever since (nearly 3 years on). School were GREAT and have funded the extra 7.5 hours themselves, but J is (maybe) transferring to Juniors next year so this year I've gone for full time actually ON the statement, as there is no guarantee that the Juniors will fund the extra time and he is not SAFE alone.

I have a meeting with LEA peeps tomorrow to discuss it; if they play silly buggers again, I will just have to apply for Tribunal, fairly safe in the knowledge that in cases where you're looking to change parts 2 or 3 of the statement, over 90%of parents are successful! That's a good gamble, and the LEA will probably back down in the meantime, like most do. I would leave the press thing until after seeing their reaction to a Tribunal application.

Here are the links to back up my J's case, and our boys do sound very, very similar!

www.sendist.gov.uk/Public/Upload/002400.pdf

www.sendist.gov.uk/Public/Upload/002329.pdf

www.sendist.gov.uk/Public/Upload/001318.pdf

www.sendist.gov.uk/Public/Upload/000059.pdf

www.sendist.gov.uk/Public/Upload/0002 77.pdf

thanks again guys. Sarah i know what you mean about fighting, its so wrong and im sure it is to break us down, my MIL keeps telling me DS is lucky to have a strong mummy but right now i could just lay down and let them get on with it.
OBVIOUSLY i wont because i cant but i do feel like it!
Will take a peek at those links givemesleep thanks. Our boys i think are very similar so the advice is SO relevant and appreciated.

As for diagnosis, we have formal ADHD and informal PDD and DS is due to go for a 3 day assessment at CAHMS in the new year which HOPEFULLY will lead to formal diagnosis.